Rescue Operation (1)
“Wow! He learned Odd Eye just yesterday, and he lasted a whole hour in a Gigant. As expected of the Stein family bloodline!”
Squad leader Argen excitedly recounted Wayne’s Gigant ride from earlier that day to the officers.
“Hmph! So what? It was just a maintenance Gigant.”
Diane Garner, another Magic Knight from the 7th Squad, snorted derisively.
“Besides, he couldn’t block his Odd and ended up blacking out anyway.”
Blackout was slang for passing out when your Odd depleted inside a Gigant.
“A maintenance Gigant’s performance isn’t much different from a 3rd class training model anyway. How long did you last on your first try?”
“......”
Diane couldn’t respond confidently. Most cadets bailed out of their first training Gigant in under five minutes.
Of course, monsters like Vice Squadron Leader Count Boltain were said to have started straight in a 3rd class Gigant.
“Well, it probably wasn’t his first time riding one.”
“Come on, Gigants aren’t exactly common.”
The ones chattering in the village center were just the Magic Knights ranked second and third in the squad hierarchy. Officers from other branches stayed quiet.
Especially Lieutenant Admon, whose maintenance chief had been kidnapped that afternoon, along with the deaths of fellow officers and subordinates—his face was grim.
“What are you all doing here? Didn’t you hear the order to gather at the village hall?”
“No, sir. We were just heading there.”
Wayne didn’t just attend the 7th Squad’s command meeting—he was also joining tomorrow’s Captain Jamie rescue operation.
Of course, his role was waiting with the musketeers at the escape route from the orc-infested forest, not charging in.
Everyone’s underestimating the orc boss.
Wayne grimaced bitterly. The meeting hadn’t sat well with him.
He’d raised the possibility of the orc boss possessing superior intelligence, but Snow and the Magic Knights—who hadn’t seen it themselves—dismissed it. Sure, splitting forces to hit the base camp was unusual for orcs, but that didn’t mean they were using human-level strategy or tactics.
As proof, they’d lost over half their forces in yesterday’s battle. And the idea of deliberately kidnapping the mechanics? They weren’t buying it. Just a raid gone wrong, so they grabbed hostages and ran.
Wayne didn’t blame them. He’d thought orcs were just dumb, brute-force brutes too—until he saw the boss.
Guess I’ll have to move separately...
It was still early evening, leaving plenty of time before the op.
Before dawn. In the thick darkness shrouded by clouds hiding the moon, Wayne eyed the 6-meter 3rd class Gigant and smacked his lips.
Too bad. Even if not that one, I wanted another ride in the maintenance Gigant...
With Captain Jamie kidnapped, one maintenance Gigant remained. But Snow the squad leader nixed it—failing to block Odd could lead to blacking out inside again, just like yesterday.
“Everyone, get ready! I won’t let a single one escape!”
A thin, sharp feminine voice emanated from the Gigant.
Of all people, she’s the commander...
Diane Garner. 23 years old. 7th Squad Magic Knight from the Garner family, who’d specifically requested the squad with a female knight as leader.
She was tough to approach in the 7th Squad, and for some reason, extra cold to Wayne.
“Blaster, we’re heading over there.”
“Pardon?”
If that’s the case, why join the op at all?
Wayne had asked for max arrows when he signed up, so Blaster scoured the village. Luckily, near the Sky Mountains with plenty of hunters, they’d loaded a small cart full.
But Wayne pulling way back from the ambush site made no sense.
While waiting, Wayne practiced sword swings and Odd Eye Odd control. No time to slack.
Back at the castle, Adam’s surveillance would cramp his style. Out here, he had to gain everything possible—people, skills, whatever.
Swinging the sword sharpened his focus; he distinctly felt the hazy, intangible energy coil around him and gather near his eyes.
Riding the maintenance Gigant had been a boon, not poison. And after that weird gorilla monster dream, deploying Odd Eye came faster than before.
But now, he practiced blocking Odd.
“Again!”
Wayne swung, his green eyes flickering on and off.
Initially, it took time to dispel Odd Eye, but suddenly it vanished in just ten seconds.
Huh? Did he figure something out?
Blaster eyed Wayne’s change expectantly.
But Wayne scowled, biting his lip.
“Damn, is this the fastest way?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
Blaster didn’t get Wayne’s mutter.
Of course it’d be the memory of getting beat by Cassnet that blocks Odd...
No direct Odd control yet, so experimenting with quick Odd Eye activation/deactivation, he found painful memories scattered his focus fast—along with irritation.
Recalling past-life boss abuse or girlfriend dumping worked, but the quickest, surest? Getting pummeled unconscious by Cassnet.
Fuck you, Cassnet! Haunting me even in death?
Not intentional, but Cassnet’s beatings taught sword stance, trance-like swings, focus—and quick Odd sense.
And now, even blocking Odd hinged on that bastard.
Boom!
Whoosh!
Explosion from the forest, flames roaring from gunpowder.
“Young master, it’s starting. Let’s go.”
Blaster grabbed his bow.
“Nah, we wait here.”
“Pardon?”
The 7th Squad’s ambush spot: a valley between two small hills. Orcs fleeing the forest would cross here toward the Sky Mountains.
But Wayne waited on a distant hill, focusing Odd Eye.
How long? Then—
“Kuoook!”
Orcs poured from the forest—over fifty.
“Young master, orcs incoming.”
“I see ’em.”
Orcs charged straight into the trap, oblivious.
Diane’s Gigant hefted its massive custom greatsword.
> Attack! Sweep away the orcs!
“Fire!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Kuoook?”
“Kuek!”
Orcs startled by musket fire, shocked by fallen kin—dropped helplessly.
Gigants were beasts. Diane’s slashed mercilessly; orcs bisected, pulverized in seconds.
Panicked orcs scattered every which way.
“Wipe them out!”
Captain Chris led ninety cavalry charging in. Earth-shaking hooves! Orcs skewered on lances, trampled under hooves.
“Young master, time to go, right?”
“No, wait.”
As soldiers mopped up the valley, Wayne scanned elsewhere.
“There! Knew it.”
“Pardon?”
Blaster followed Wayne’s point. Soon, he spotted orcs fleeing south of the ambush, under the hill.
“No way?”
“Yeah, the orc boss. Smart little bastard.”
Wayne grinned wickedly. Let the others go—he’d nab the boss.
The orc chief stayed safe at base during the split-force op, hid behind walls during the attack, directed from atop log walls during the kidnapping—never entering camp. Self-preservation, brains at work.
Catch him, and they’ll get it...
Splitting the herd again for escape? Confirmed the cunning.
“Blaster, we take him!”
“Pardon?”
Not “can we?” but “let’s!”—Blaster smacked his lips. Plenty of escort orcs, visibly.
But Wayne trusted Blaster’s archery.
Blaster gauged distance, drew his special bow—monster bone frame, sinew string, inhuman draw strength.
Twang!
Thuk!
Orc’s throat pierced, dropped silent.
Damn, sniper pro!
Regular arrow missile-like; Wayne was impressed. Last in the pack.
Orcs pressed on, unaware.
Thud!
“Kuok?”
Rear orc down; others turned. Third arrow flew, forehead of lead orc.
“Kuoook! Attack!”
Boss looked up: dawn-lit eastern hill, giant man loosing arrows.
Shreek!
Boss ducked; rear orc took it instead.
To the boss: no Gigant, single arrows—few foes.
“Orcs! Kill humans!”
Escorts charged the hill; boss fled with handful guards.
Using minions to the end.
“Blaster! Boss is bolting! I’ll chase.”
“Pardon?”
“You can handle the rest solo.”
“Not that—young master alone is dangerous.”
Blaster fretted over Wayne despite charging orcs.
“Don’t worry. I’ll tail from afar, leave markers. Finish up and follow.”
“Young master! Still...”
Before he finished, Wayne bolted after the boss the opposite way.
Blaster couldn’t follow—risky backstab.
He picked off hill-climbing orcs one by one.
“Come on! Arrows for days!”
Now he got why Wayne picked here, prepped arrows. Eager to end these and catch up, Blaster loosed freely.
Dawn broke. Fleeing orcs raced toward Sky Mountains, plunged into dense-wooded forest.
Ran an hour along paths, halted at a large cave mouth at the range’s edge.
Damn orcs are fast!
Wayne caught breath behind a tree—froze.
Another orc group approached from behind.
He ducked into underbrush. Orcs passed oblivious.
But—
What? Captain Jamie?
One orc in the group shouldered the captain.
So he split into three groups?
Wayne admired the boss’s cunning again. Baited with fifty-plus, smuggled captain separately.
But why bother kidnapping mechanics at all?
Wayne still puzzled: why attack base? Kidnap mechanics? Go through hell smuggling captain? Motive?
Orcs paused at entrance, entered cave.
Dilemma: wait for Blaster, or pursue?
Decision quick.
Wayne’s Odd Eye gleamed entering the cave.
One vs. seven orcs? Suicide.
But pitch-black cave... could tail unseen.